Information processing apparatus, display control method and display control program

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes: a display control section for displaying a window showing a first icon and a second icon of a predetermined display size on a display screen. The display control section reduces the display size of at least either the first icon or the second icon so as not to overlap with each other if it determines that the icons overlap with each other when it alters a display area of the window being displayed on the display screen.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/267,747, filed Nov. 10, 2008, which contains subject matter relatedto Japanese Patent Application JP2007-328030 filed in the JapanesePatent Office on Dec. 19, 2007, the entire contents of both of which arebeing incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, adisplay control method and a display control program that can suitablyfind applications in the field of information processing apparatushaving a multi-window type graphical user interface (GUI).

2. Description of the Related Art

Many information processing apparatus such as personal computers thathave recently been and currently are being marketed have a GUI as userinterface to allow the user to easily comprehend how to operate theinput devices including a mouse and a touch panel at a glance.

Information processing apparatus of this type include those having amulti-window type GUI designed to display a plurality of windows thatare assigned to respective processes so that the user can select adesired process by selecting the corresponding window.

Each window serves as the frame of the work area of each process, wherecharacters and images that correspond to the process and a menu andicons (including buttons) showing the assigned commands that areexecutable for the process are arranged. For example, in the case of awindow for a web browser, characters and images of a home page and amenu and icons showing the assigned commands relating to viewing thehome page are arranged in the frame.

Icons common to the processes including icons for manipulating windowssuch as an icon for changing the display size of a window and an iconfor closing a window are also arranged at a predetermined position inthe windows. Thus, the user can manipulate windows by using such icons.For example, the user can alter the size of a window or close a windowby means of the corresponding icon.

Furthermore, there have been proposed an information processingapparatus having a GUI by means of which the size of the displayed iconsis altered in such a way that the occupancy ratio of the icons in eachwindow is constantly held below a predetermined level if the user altersthe size of a displayed window by operating the window (refer to, e.g.,Jpn. Pat. Appln. Laid-Open Publication No. 2005-004396).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With an information processing apparatus as described above, the size ofthe icons being displayed in a window is reduced as the size of thewindow that is being displayed is reduced. With this arrangement, theicons can constantly be displayed in the window regardless of the sizeof the window that is being displayed. In other words, the user canfreely alter the display size of a window without making the icons lessvisually recognizable.

However, the icons become less easy to handle as the size of the iconsbeing displayed is reduced. Particularly, this problem becomesremarkable when the input device is a touch panel because the user hasto touch one of the icons being displayed by a finger to use the icon.

Thus, existing image forming processing apparatus having a GUI is notable to provide a high degree of freedom for changing the size of theicons being displayed on a window and a high operability of icons at thesame time.

In view of above-identified problem, the present invention proposes aninformation processing apparatus, a display control method and a displaycontrol program designed to raise the degree of freedom of operating awindow while minimizing the fall of the operability of the icons in thewindow.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a window showing afirst icon and a second icon of a predetermined display size isdisplayed on a display screen and the display size of at least eitherthe first icon or the second icon is reduced if it is determined thatthe icons overlap with each other when a display area of the window onthe display screen is altered.

Thus, the display size of the icons is not changed until the iconsoverlap if the display area of the window is reduced and the displaysize of at least either the first icon or the second icon is reducedonly when the display area of the window is reduced further. Therefore,the display area of a window can be freely altered without changing thedisplay size of the icons from the original size as long as possible.

According to the present invention, since the display size of the iconsis not changed until an overlap of the icons occurs when the displayarea of the window is reduced and the display size of at least eitherthe first icon or the second icon is reduced only when the display areaof the window is reduced further, the display area of a window can befreely altered without changing the display size of the icons from theoriginal size until the last minute. Therefore, the present inventioncan realize an information processing apparatus, a display controlmethod and a display control program that raise the degree of freedom ofmanipulating a window while minimizing the fall of the operability ofthe icons in the window.

The nature, principle and utility of the invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts aredesignated by like reference numerals or characters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic functional block diagram of information processingapparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention,showing the functional configuration thereof;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views of informationprocessing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention, which is a portable information communication terminal,showing the appearance thereof;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the information communicationterminal of FIG. 2, showing a panel covering part at an end and a panelcovering part at the opposite end thereof;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the upper housing of theinformation communication terminal of FIG. 2, showing the configurationof a lateral side thereof;

FIG. 5 is a schematic hardware block diagram of the informationcommunication terminal of FIG. 2, showing the circuit configurationthereof;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of arrangement (1) of GUI image;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of arrangement (2) of GUI image;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of arrangement (3) of GUI image;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic illustrations of a move of a selectedwindow;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic illustrations of erasure of a selectedwindow;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic illustrations of display of a propertywindow;

FIGS. 12A and 12B are schematic illustrations of change (1) of thedisplay size of a selected window;

FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic illustrations of change (2) of thedisplay size of a selected window;

FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic illustrations of a rearrangement of aselected icon;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are schematic illustrations of a move of a selectedwindow to a bottom position;

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration of a selected icon displayed with astandard display size;

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration of change (1) of the display size ofa selected icon;

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of change (2) of the display size ofa selected icon;

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of change (3) of the display size ofa selected icon;

FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration of change (4) of the display size ofa selected icon;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of the icon display size change process sequenceof the second embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of the icon display size change process sequenceof the third embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a schematic illustration of a change of the display size of aselected icon of the third embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a schematic illustration of the smallest display size of aselected window;

FIGS. 25A and 25B are schematic illustrations of an automatic positionadjustment of a selected window;

FIGS. 26A and 26B are schematic illustrations of replacement of aselected icon by another icon;

FIG. 27 is a schematic illustration of changing the display size ofselection/setting icons without altering recognition regions thereof;

FIG. 28 is a schematic illustration of expansion of a selection/settingicon that is touched by a user;

FIG. 29 is a schematic illustration of replacement (1) of a command of aselection/setting icon; and

FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration of replacement (2) of the command ofa selection/setting icon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described ingreater detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

(1) First Embodiment

To begin with, the first embodiment of the invention will be described.Referring to FIG. 1, reference symbol 1 denotes a functional block of aninformation processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus 1has a display control section 3 for displaying a window where the firsticon and the second icon are arranged on the display screen of displaysection 2.

When the user alters the display area of the window on the displayscreen, the display control section 3 reduces the display size of eitherthe first icon or the second icon when it judges that the icons overlapas a result of the alteration of the display area.

Additionally, the information processing apparatus 1 has a command inputsection 4 by means of which the user can input a command to the windowbeing displays on the display screen of the display section 2 and thedisplay control section 3 alters the display area of the windowaccording to the command to the window that is input by way of thecommand input section 4.

Still additionally, as a command for reducing the display size of thewindow is input by way of the command input section 4 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1, the display control section 3 alters the displayarea of the window by reducing the display size of the window accordingto the command.

Furthermore, as a command for shifting the display position of thewindow is input by way of the command input section 4 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1, the display control section 3 shifts the displayposition of the window according to the command. When the window partlymoves out of the display screen as a result of the shift of the displayposition, the display control section 3 alters the display area of thewindow. When at least either the first icon or the second icon moves outof the display area as a result of the alteration of the display area,the display control section 3 shifts the icon that moves out of thedisplay area into the display area so as to make it to be displayed.

Still additionally, as a command for shifting the display position ofthe window is input by way of the command input section 4 of theinformation processing apparatus 1, the display control section 3 shiftsthe display position of the window according to the command and, whenthe window partly moves out of the display screen as a result of theshift of the display position, it adjusts the display position of thewindow so as to make the window entirely to be found on the displayscreen.

Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 1 has a commandassignment section 5 for assigning the first command and the secondcommand respectively to the first icon and the second icon. When thedisplay size of either the first icon or the second icon is made smallerthan a predetermined display size under the control of the displaycontrol section 3, the command assignment section 5 selects either thefirst command assigned to the first icon and the second command assignedto the second icon and makes only the selected command effective.

Still additionally, the display control section 3 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1 can reduce the display size of the first icon andthe section icon without altering the recognizing region that recognizesan operation relative to the first icon and an operation relative to thesecond icon on the display screen.

Furthermore, the information processing apparatus 1 has a prioritydefining section 6 for defining priority for the first icon and thesecond icon in response to a change made to the display size and thedisplay control section 3 reduces the display size of either the firsticon or the second icon according to the defined priority.

Still additionally, the display control section 3 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1 selects either the first mode in which thedisplay area of the window can be altered and the second mode in whichthe display area of the window is not able to altered and hence italters the display area of the window in the display screen only in thefirst mode.

In this way, if the information processing apparatus 1 reduces thedisplay area of the window, it does not change the display size ofeither of the icons until it is inevitably forced to change the displaysize of either of the first icon or the second icon because it furtherreduces the display area of the window. Thus, the user can freely alterthe display area of the window without changing the display size ofeither of the icons until the last minutes. Therefore, this embodimentcan raise the degree of freedom of manipulating the window whileminimizing the fall of the operability of the icons in the window.

(2) Second Embodiment

Now, the second embodiment of the present invention, which is a concreteexample of the first embodiment, will be described below.

(2-1) Appearance of Information Communication Terminal

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic perspective views of the second embodimentof information processing apparatus, which is a portable informationcommunication terminal 10, showing the appearance thereof. Theinformation communication terminal 10 has an electronic mail featurethat can realize transmission/reception of e-mail messages to and fromexternal apparatus such as personal computers and other informationcommunication terminals by way of the Internet.

Additionally, the information communication terminal 10 also has anInternet Protocol (IP) phone feature for realizing telephoneconversations between the user and conversation partners by way of theInternet and external apparatus communication feature for realizingdirect wired and wireless communications with external apparatus.

Still additionally, the information communication terminal 10 also has adata storage feature for acquiring music data and image data fromservers on the Internet and external apparatus and storing them and areproduction feature for reproducing any of the music data and/or theimage data stored by means of the data storage feature for the user whenthe user wants to listen to music and/or watch images.

The information communication terminal 10 also has other features suchas an information viewing feature for making the user able to viewvarious pieces of information provided by servers on the Internet.

The size of the information communication terminal 10 is such that theuser can hold it by a single hand. The information communicationterminal 10 includes a flat, oblong and substantially rectangularlyparallelepipedic terminal housing 11 whose opposite major surfaces showa contour like that of a race track and hence are long in one directionrather than in the direction orthogonal to it on the surfaces.

In the following description, the direction in which the terminalhousing 11 is short is referred to as terminal transversal direction andthe direction in which the terminal housing 11 is long is referred to asterminal longitudinal direction.

The terminal housing 11 includes a housing 12 that defines one of theopposite major surfaces (to be referred to as lower housing hereinafter)of the terminal housing 11 and a housing 13 that defines other majorsurface (to be referred to as upper housing hereinafter) of the terminalhousing 11 and can slide relative to the housing 12 along the terminaltransversal direction.

A plurality of keys 14, by means of which the user can input characters(alphabetical letters and Japanese hiraganas), numerals, signs and soon, are arranged on the upper surface 12A of the lower housing 12 thatfaces the upper housing 13.

As the upper housing 13 is driven to slide and laid on the upper surface12A of the lower housing 12, it is integrally combined with the upperhousing 13 to become the flat, oblong and substantially rectangularlyparallelepipedic terminal housing 11 and hide the plurality of keys 14from outside.

On the other hand, as the upper housing 13 is driven to slide and moveaway from the upper surface 12A of the lower housing 12, the pluralityof keys 14 is exposed to function as a keyboard.

Therefore, as the upper housing 13 is driven to slide and move away fromthe lower housing 12 so as to expose the plurality of keys 14, the usecan input various pieces of information such as the text of an e-mailmessage and/or a schedule by way of the plurality of keys 14 into theterminal housing 11.

The upper housing 13 has a display section 15 arranged at a central partof the upper surface 13A thereof, which also defines the upper surfaceof the terminal housing 11. The display section 15 includes arectangular display screen 15A whose longitudinal direction (to bereferred to as display surface longitudinal direction hereinafter)extending in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the terminalhousing 11.

The terminal housing 11 displays the various pieces of information itacquires from an external apparatus or a server on the Internet on thedisplay screen 15A of the display section 15 as an image so that theuser can view the displayed information.

When the upper housing 13 is driven to slide and move away from thelower housing 12 and the lower housing 12 is operated as keyboard, theinformation such as a text input by way of the plurality of keys 14 ofthe lower housing 12 is also displayed as an image on the display screen15A of the display section 15 so that the user can view the displayedinformation.

Still additionally, the terminal housing 11 can display an image of thegraphic user interface (GUI) it has on the display screen 15A of thedisplay section 15.

The upper housing 13 has a touch panel 16 larger than the display screen15A of the display section 15 that shows a contour like that of a racetrack and is also arranged at a central part of the upper surface 13Athereof. The touch panel 16 is arranged to lie over the display screen15A including the periphery thereof with its longitudinal direction (tobe referred to as panel longitudinal direction hereinafter) extending inparallel with the longitudinal direction of the terminal housing 11.

While an image is being displayed on the display screen 15A of thedisplay section 15, as a certain predetermined part of the image beingdisplayed on the display screen is touched and depressed by a finger ora stylus pen by way of the touch panel 16 (an action of touching anddepressing the surface of the touch panel 16 and is referred to as atouch hereinafter), a corresponding input is received by the terminalhousing 11.

Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, buttons 17 through 22 showing so manycommands are arranged (drawn) in the part 13B and the part 13C of theupper surface 13A of the upper housing 13 that are covered by the touchpanel 16 (to be referred to as the first end side panel-covered part andthe second end side panel-covered part hereinafter) and locatedrespectively at the first end side and at the second end side relativeto the display screen 15A of the display section 15 in the longitudinaldirection of the terminal.

More specifically, an information button 17 that corresponds to aninformation presentation command for showing the application programbeing executed is drawn for the command that the user can input in thefirst end side panel-covered part 13B.

Further, a multi window button 18 that corresponds to a multi windowdisplay command for displaying the plurality of windows on the displayscreen 15A of the display section 15 is drawn for the command that theuser can input in the first end side panel-covered part 13B.

Similarly, a home button 19 that corresponds to a menu screen displaycommand for displaying a main menu image, replacing the image currentlybeing displayed on the display screen 15A of the display section 15, isalso drawn for the command that the user can input in the first end sidepanel-covered part 13B.

On the other hand, an option button 20 that corresponds to a selectedimage overlap command for displaying a selected image related to theimage currently being displayed on the display screen 15A of the displaysection 15 in an overlapping manner (or popup display) is drawn for thecommand that the user can input in the second end side panel-coveredpart 13C.

Similarly, a display button 21 that corresponds to an image definingimage display command for displaying an image for defining the image tobe displayed in terms of luminance, font of characters, etc. on thedisplay screen 15A of the display section 15 is also drawn for thecommand that the user can input in the second end side panel-coveredpart 13C.

Additionally, a back button 22 for displaying the image that used to bedisplayed immediately before the image that is currently being displayedto replace the latter image on the display screen 15A of the displaysection 15 is also drawn for the command that the user can input in thesecond end side panel-covered part 13C.

Thus, any of the regions of the surface of the touch panel 16 locatedvis-à-vis the buttons 17 through 22 in the first end side panel-coveredpart 13B and the second end side panel-covered part 13C (to be referredto as button-facing regions hereinafter) is touched, the command thatcorresponds to the touched one of the button-facing regions and thecorresponding one of the buttons 17 through 22 that faces the region isinput to the terminal housing 11.

Additionally, the upper housing 13 is provided with a speaker 23 (FIGS.2A, 2B and 3) arranged on the upper surface 13A and outside the touchpanel 16 at the side of and at a position close to the first end in thelongitudinal direction of the touch panel 16 (in other words, close tothe first end of the upper surface 13A in the terminal longitudinaldirection).

The upper housing 13 is also provided with a microphone 24 arranged onthe upper surface 13A and outside the touch panel 16 at the side of andat a position close to the second end in the longitudinal direction ofthe touch panel 16 (in other words, close to the second end of the uppersurface 13A in the terminal longitudinal direction).

Thus, the user can listen to the voice of the person at the other end ofthe communication channel that is output from the speaker 23 and talk tothe person by way of the microphone 24 that collects the user's voice asthe user, who is holding the terminal housing 11 by hand at the lowersurface thereof, draws the speaker 23 and the microphone 24 close to oneof his or her mouth respectively to successfully carry out a telephoneconversation.

Still additionally, the upper housing 13 is provided with a four waydirectional pad 25 near the microphone 24 on the upper surface 13A. Thefour way directional pad 25 can be tilted at the pivot thereof anddepressed for various operations.

For example, it may be so arranged that, as the four way directional pad25 is tilted at the pivot thereof from the upright posture relative tothe upper surface 13A of the upper housing 13, either of thetransversally opposite directions of the terminal can be specified andinput.

Similarly, it may be so arranged that, as the four way directional pad25 is tilted at the pivot thereof from the upright posture relative tothe upper surface 13A of the upper housing 13, either of thelongitudinally opposite directions of the terminal can be specified andinput.

It may also be so arranged that, as the four way directional pad 25 isdepressed from the upper surface 13A of the upper housing 13 toward thelower housing 12 at the center and above the pivot thereof, a command isfinalized and input.

Thus, as the four way directional pad 25 is tilted while an image isbeing displayed on the display screen 15A of the display section 15 ofthe terminal housing 11, the cursor on the display screen 15A of thedisplay section 15 is driven to move and point a desired part on thedisplay screen in response to the operation of tilting the four waydirectional pad 25.

Additionally, as the four way directional pad 25 is depressed at thecenter thereof, while an image is being displayed on the display screen15A of the display section 15 of the terminal housing 11 and the cursoris pointing an icon on the display screen 15A, the selection of the iconis finalized and the command that corresponds to the icon is input.

As shown in FIG. 4, a universal serial bus (USB) connector 26 and aconnector jack 27 are juxtaposed in a central part of one of the lateralsurface 13B of the upper housing 13 running in parallel with theterminal longitudinal direction.

Thus, a USB cable (not shown) can be connected to the USB connector 26of the terminal housing 11 for wired connections with externalapparatus.

Additionally, a headset or a headphone (both not shown) having a soundinput/output feature can be connected to the connector jack 27 of theterminal housing 11.

As a headset is connected to the connector jack 27 of the terminalhousing 11, the user can talk to the person at the other end of thecommunication channel by way of the headset instead of the speaker 23and the microphone 24, which are described above.

A direct current (DC) jack 28 for feeding power from a direct currentpower source is also arranged on the lateral surface 13B of the upperhousing 13.

As the terminal housing 11 is connected to a commercial power supply byway of an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) adaptor (not shown)connected to the DC jack 28, it is driven to operate or its battery (notshown) is electrically charged by the DC power supplied from thecommercial power supply by way of the (AC/DC) adaptor.

(2-2) Internal Configuration of Information Communication Terminal

Now, the circuit configuration of the above-described informationcommunication terminal 10 will be described below. Referring to FIG. 5,the information communication terminal 10 has a control section 30formed by using a microprocessor.

The control section 30 reads out various programs including the basicprogram and any of the various application programs stored in a flashmemory 31 or a mass storage flash memory 32 and develops them on arandom access memory (RAM) 33, which may be a synchronous dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM), to control the entire information communicationterminal 10 and execute various processes.

Thus, the control section 30 can realize one of the above-describedvarious features of the information communication terminal 10 includingthe electronic mail feature, the IP phone feature, the feature ofcommunicating with external apparatus, the data storage feature, thereproduction feature, information viewing feature, the instant messengerfeature, the chat feature and so on by itself.

Additionally, the control section 30 can realize a plurality of featuresconcurrently in parallel by executing a plurality of applicationprograms also concurrently in parallel.

More specifically, when position detecting data that corresponds to theposition where the touch panel 16 is touched (to be referred to as touchposition hereinafter) is given to the control section 30, it detects thetouch position on the surface of the touch panel 16 as the coordinatesof a point on the surface according to the position detecting data.

Then, the control section 30 determines if a command is assigned to thecoordinates on the display screen, the first end side panel-covered part13B or the second end side panel-covered part 13C that correspond to thedetected touch position or not and, if it determines that a command isassigned to them, it executes a process according to the command, whichprocess may be a process of controlling the image (e.g., a GUI image) tobe displayed on the display screen 15A of the display section 15 or aprocess of communicating with an external apparatus.

Note that, when the control section 30 realizes one or more than one ofthe above listed features and the user operates the key input section 34having the above-described plurality of keys and the four waydirectional pad 25 so that operation data that corresponds to the aboveoperation is given to the control section 30 from the key input section34, the control section 30 executes one or more than one processesaccording to the operation data.

Thus, for example, the control section 30 can directly communicate withan external apparatus, which may be a personal computer or some otherinformation communication terminal, by means of the wirelesscommunication section 35 and the wireless local area network (WLAN)feature that conforms to the 802.11 Standard.

Additionally, for example, the control section 30 can communicate withan external apparatus such as personal computer, some other informationcommunication terminal or a server on the Internet by the wirelesscommunication section 35 and by way of an access point and the Internet.

When the control section 30 acquires viewable information as data by wayof the wireless communication section 35 for forming an image to bedisplayed on the display screen, it sends out the data for forming animage to the display section 15 and has the display screen 15A of thedisplay section 15 display the image formed according to the data sothat the user can view the viewable information.

When the control section 30 receives music data and/or image data by wayof the wireless communication section 35 as a result of communicationwith an external apparatus or a server, it sends out the music dataand/or the image data to the mass storage flash memory 32 and storesthem there.

When the control section 30 reproduces such image data, it reads out theimage data from the mass storage flash memory 32 and executespredetermined reproduction processes including a decoding process on theimage data before it sends out the data to the display section 15. As aresult, the control section 30 can display the image on the displayscreen 15A of the display section 15 according to the image data andhave the user watch it.

The control section 30 is connected to the above-described connectorjack 27, which connector jack 27 is provided with, for example, aplurality of connection pins.

The connector jack 27 detects if a headset or a headphone is connectedto it according to the presence or absence of the related connectionpins connected to the terminal of an external connector and notifies thecontrol section 30 of the outcome of detection.

Thus, when the control section 30 reproduces music data, it reads outthe music data from the mass storage flash memory 32 and sends them outto the audio processing section 36. The audio processing section 36executes reproduction processes including a decoding process, adigital/analog conversion process and an amplification process on themusic data and produces a music signal.

Then, if no headphone is connected to the connector jack 27, the audioprocessing section 36 sends out the music signal to the speaker 24 underthe control of the control section 30 in order to output the music ofthe music signal from the speaker 24 so that the user can listen to themusic.

If, on the other hand, a headphone is connected to the connector jack27, the audio processing section 36 sends out the music signal to theheadphone by way of the connector jack 27 under the control of thecontrol section 30 in order to output the music of the music signal fromthe headphone so that the user can listen to the music.

If no headset is connected to the connector jack 27 when the user istalking with the person at the other end of the communication channel ofIP phone, the control section 30 takes in the audio signal that isobtained by collecting the user's voice by means of the microphone byway of a switching section 37.

Then, the audio processing section 36 executes predetermined processesincluding an analog/digital conversion process on the audio signal toproduce audio data and sends out the audio data it produces to thecontrol section 30.

Thus, the control section 30 transmits the audio data to the informationcommunication terminal that the person at the other end of thecommunication channel has by the wireless communication section 35 byway of an access point and the Internet.

Then, the control section 30 receives and takes in the audio data of thevoice of the person at the other end of the communication channel bymeans of the wireless communication section 35 and sends out the datathat are taken in to the audio processing section 36.

At this time, the audio processing section 36 executes predeterminedprocesses including a digital/analog conversion process and anamplification process on the audio data to produce an audio signal andsends out the audio signal it produces to the speaker 23 under thecontrol of the control section 30 to output the voice of the person atthe other end of the communication channel from the speaker according tothe audio signal.

If, on the other hand, a headset is connected to the connector jack 27when the user is talking with the person at the other end of thecommunication channel of IP phone, the control section 30 takes in theaudio signal that is obtained by collecting the user's voice by means ofthe microphone installed in the headset by way of the connector jack 27and the switching section 37.

Then, the audio processing section 36 executes predetermined processesincluding an analog/digital conversion process on the audio signal toproduce audio data and sends out the audio data it produces to thecontrol section 30.

Thus, the control section 30 transmits the audio data to the informationcommunication terminal that the person at the other end of thecommunication channel has by the wireless communication section 35 byway of an access point and Internet.

Then, the control section 30 receives and takes in the audio data of thevoice of the person at the other end of the communication channeltransmitted from the information communication terminal by means of thewireless communication section 35 and sends out the audio data that aretaken into the audio processing section 36.

At this time, the audio processing section 36 executes predeterminedprocesses including a digital/analog conversion process and anamplification process on the audio data to produce an audio signal andsends out the audio signal it produces to the headphone of the headsetsequentially by way of the switching section 37 and the connector jack27 under the control of the control section 30 to output the voice ofthe person at the other end of the communication channel from theheadphone of the headset according to the audio signal.

When the information communication terminal 10 receives an incoming callof IP phone, the control section 30 sends out the data of the ringingtone (or the ringer) to the speaker 23 as a ringing tone signal by wayof the audio processing section 36 or to the headphone of the headsetsequentially by way of the switching section 37 and the connector jack27 so as to make the speaker 23 or the headphone of the headset,whichever appropriate, output a ringing tone and notifies the user ofthe incoming call.

The mass storage flash memory 32 stores the data generated according tovarious application programs such as registration information on otherusers that are to be used when exchanging information with other usersby means of a tool selected from the instant messenger, the IP phone,the chat, the electronic mail and so on in addition to music data andimage data.

Additionally, the mass storage flash memory 32 also stores registrationinformation on the user him- or herself (and his or her informationcommunication apparatus) that is to be transmitted to the informationcommunication apparatus that other user possess.

Besides external apparatus such as a personal computer or some otherinformation communication terminal, the USB connector 26 can also beconnected to a drive 38 by way of a USB cable.

The control section 30 can take in the computer program read out from aremovable medium 39 mounted on the drive 38, which may be a magneticdisk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk or a semiconductor memory,by way of the USB connector 26 and install it in the flash memory 31 orthe mass storage flash memory 32.

Additionally, when direct current power is being supplied to theinformation communication terminal 10 from outside by way of the DC jack28, the control section 30 can operate the various sections of theinformation communication terminal 10 by taking in the direct currentinto a power supply control section 40 and supplying it to thosesections.

Furthermore, when direct current power is being supplied to theinformation communication terminal 10 from outside by way of the DC jack28, the control section 30 can charge a battery 41 mounted on theinformation communication terminal 10 by taking in the direct currentinto power supply control section 40.

Still additionally, when no direct current power is being supplied tothe information communication terminal 10 from outside, the controlsection 30 can operate the various sections of the informationcommunication terminal 10 by taking in the direct current supplied fromthe battery 41 into the power supply control section 40 and supplying itto those sections.

Furthermore, when the information communication terminal 10 is connectedto a personal computer, for instance, by way of the USB connector 26,the control section 30 can operate the various sections of theinformation communication terminal 10 by taking in the direct currentsupplied from the personal computer into the power control section 40once and supplying it to those sections.

Note that the above-described information communication terminal 10shows an exemplar mode of realization of the above-described informationprocessing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, using hardware. Morespecifically, the functional features of display control section 3,command assigning section 5 and priority defining/assigning section 6 ofthe information processing apparatus 1 are realized by the controlsection 30 of the information communication terminal 10 and thefunctional feature of command input section 4 of the informationprocessing apparatus 1 is realized by the touch panel 16 of theinformation communication terminal 10.

(2-3) GUI of Information Communication Terminal

Now, the GUI of the information communication terminal 10 will bedescribed below. The GUI is mainly realized by the control section 30,the display section 15 and the touch panel 16. More specifically, theGUI is designed to cause the user to do input operations by means of thetouch panel 16 for the multi-window type image being displayed on thedisplay section 15.

As shown in FIG. 6, the image of a GUI (GUI image) 50 shows arectangular contour and includes a strip-shaped region 51 arranged alongthe upper edge of the display screen and a region 52 that takes therest. The GUI image 50 is displayed on the display screen 15A of thedisplay section 15 as the multi-window button 18 is depressed and thecontrol section 30 controls the display operation.

The region 51 of the GUI image 50 shows various pieces of informationindicating the current status of the information communication terminal10 and will also be referred to as terminal status display regionhereinafter. On the other hand, the region 52 is a region where a windowthat corresponds to the application program being executed is displayed(in other words a window that is displayed when an application programis started and will also be referred to as application windowhereinafter) and will also be referred to as window display region.

More specifically, the terminal status display region 51 displays aremaining battery power icon 53 showing the remaining power of thebattery of the information communication terminal 10, an electric waveintensity icon 54 indicating the intensity of the electric wave of theWLAN and the current clock time 55 among others.

On the other hand, as a plurality of application programs are started,the window display region 52 displays a plurality of application windowsAw that correspond to the application programs, as shown in FIG. 7.

As an example, five application windows Aw1 through Aw5 are beingdisplayed in the window display region 52 of the GUI image 50illustrated in FIG. 7.

Of these windows, the application window Aw1 is a window for a searchapplication and shows an input box Aw1 a for inputting a search keywordand an icon Aw2 a to which the command for searching information relatedto the keyword input to the input box Aw1 a is assigned.

The application window Aw2 is a window for an instant messengerapplication and shows an icon Aw2 a to which the command for logging inthe service of instant messenger and the command for logging out theservice are assigned and images Aw2 b through Aw2 e that show each ofother users has logged in the service or not.

The application window Aw3 is a window for a moving image reproductionapplication and shows a display region Aw3 a for displaying the movingimage reproduced by the information communication terminal 10.

The application window Aw4 is a window for a news display applicationand shows a display region Aw4 a for displaying the news acquired fromthe Internet and icons Aw4 b and Aw4 c to which the command forswitching the news to be displayed in the display region Aw4 a isassigned.

The application window Aw5 is a window for an image list displayapplication and shows a display region Aw5 a for displaying a list ofthe images stored in the information communication terminal 10 and iconsAw5 b and Aw5 c to which the command for switching the image to bedisplayed in the display region Aw5 a is assigned.

The user can select any of objects including the icons that are arrangedin the application windows Aw and operate it by touching the selectedobject being displayed.

Thus, the information communication terminal 10 can provide a pluralityof functional features including the Internet search feature, theinstant messenger feature, the moving image reproduction feature and thenews display feature and an image list display feature to the user atthe same time by way of the application window Aw.

The mode in which application windows Aw are displayed in a state wherethe objects in the application windows Aw are operable is referred to asactive mode.

On the other hand, the mode in which the objects in the applicationwindows Aw that are being displayed are no longer operable but the usercan select and set application programs and application windows Aw isreferred to as selection/setting mode.

There is also a mode in which an application program can be installed oruninstalled. This mode is referred to as installation mode.

Now, of these modes, the selection/setting mode will be described indetail below.

(2-4) Selection/Setting Mode

As the item of “selection/setting mode” is selected from the popup menu(not shown) that is displayed on the GUI image 50 when the option button20 is depressed in the active mode, the active mode is switched to theselection/setting mode.

As this mode is selected, windows Sw for various selections/settings (tobe also referred to as selection/setting windows hereinafter) aredisplayed on the respective application windows Aw being displayed onthe GUI image 50 (the application windows Aw being displayed in theactive mode) with the respective sizes substantially same as those ofthe application windows Aw as shown in FIG. 8.

The selection/setting windows Sw and the underlying application windowsAw are related to each other respectively and a window operation (formoving the window, altering the window size etc.) performed on aselection/setting window Sw is also applied to the underlyingapplication window Aw. An application window Aw can be added or deletedfreely in this selection/setting mode.

FIG. 8 illustrates a GUI image 50 displaying five selection/settingwindows Sw1, Sw2, Sw3, Sw4 and Sw5 that are laid on five applicationwindows Aw1, Aw2, Aw3, Aw4 and Aw5 respectively as an example.

The selection/setting windows Sw are transparent except their contourlines so that the underlying application windows Aw are visible but theobjects in the application windows Aw are inoperable. The contour linesof the selection/setting windows Sw are drawn in an eye catching color(e.g., in orange) relative to the underlying application windows Aw.

Square icons Si to be used for various selection/setting operations forthe application programs and the application windows Aw are arranged atthe four corners of the selection/setting windows Sw (to be alsoreferred to as selection/setting icons hereinafter). The arrangement ofselection/setting icons Si is common to all the selection/settingwindows Sw. The selection/setting icons Si are translucent and marksthat schematically illustrate the commands assigned to the respectiveicons are shown on them.

More specifically, in each selection/setting window Sw, move icon Si1 towhich the command for shifting the display position of eachselection/setting window Sw with the underlying application icon Aw isassigned is arranged at the upper left corner and closing icon Si2 towhich the command for closing the selection/setting window Sw with theunderlying application window Aw is assigned is arranged at the upperright corner while property icon Si3 to which the command for displayinga property image of the correspond application is assigned is arrangedat the lower left corner and size change icon Si4 to which the commandfor changing the display size of the selection/setting window Sw andthat of the underlying application window Aw is assigned is arranged atthe lower right corner.

In the selection/setting mode, as the user touches the display area ofthe move icon Si1 arranged at the upper left corner of aselection/setting window Sw on the display screen 15A by means of afinger (or a pen), slides the finger in a desired direction, keeping thefinger held in touch with the display screen 15A, and moves the fingeraway from the display screen 15A, the selection/setting window Sw ismoved in the desired direction in the window display region 52 alongwith the underlying application window Aw as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and9B.

Additionally, for example, as the user touches the display area of theclosing icon Si2 arranged at the upper right corner of aselection/setting window Sw on the display screen 15A by means of afinger and then moves the finger away from the display screen 15A, theselection/setting window Sw and the underlying application window Aw areclosed (and hence erased from the window display region 52) asillustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B.

Still additionally, as the user touches the display area of the propertyicon Si3 arranged at the lower left corner of a selection/setting windowSw on the display screen 15A, the property window Pw of thecorresponding application window Aw is displayed on the display screenas illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B.

Furthermore, as the user touches the display area of the size alterationicon Si4 arranged at the lower right corner of a selection/settingwindow Sw on the display screen 15A by means of a finger as shown inFIGS. 12A and 12B, display size of the application window Aw can bechanged along with the selection/setting window Sw.

In actuality, as the user touches the display area of the sizealteration icon Si4 by means of a finger for the purpose of alterationof the size of the window, firstly the vertex diagonal relative to theposition of the size alteration icon Si4 (the upper left vertex in thiscase) on the selection/setting window Sw is fixed.

Then, as the user slides the finger touching the display area of thesize change icon Si4 in a desired direction under this condition andmoves it away from the display screen 15A, the horizontal component ofthe distance by which the sliding finger moved (in the direction of theX-axis) is recognized as the quantity by which the selection/settingwindow Sw is expanded or contracted in the horizontal direction (in thedirection of the X-axis) and the vertical component of the distance bywhich the sliding finger moved (in the direction of the Y-axis) isrecognized as the quantity by which the selection/setting window Sw isexpanded or contracted in the vertical direction (in the direction ofthe Y-axis). Thus, the display size of the selection/setting window Swis changed accordingly. As the display size of the selection/settingwindow Sw is changed, the display size of the underlying applicationwindow Aw is also changed accordingly.

The display size of a selection/setting window Sw and that of theunderlying application window Aw can be changed in this way.

Additionally, in the selection/setting mode, an action of touching apart of a selection/setting window Sw other than the selection/settingicons Si thereof by means of a finger and sliding the finger in adesired direction, holding it in touch with the display screen, givesrise to an effect of moving the selection/setting window Sw and theunderlying application window Aw in a desired direction in the windowdisplay region 52 same as an action of touching the move icon Sit andsliding the finger, holding it in touch with the display screen.

Still additionally, when a selection/setting window Sw partly moves outof the window display region 52 so that some of the selection/settingicons Si are no longer displayed as a result of moving theselection/setting window Sw in a desired direction in the window displayregion 52 as shown in FIG. 14A, the disappeared selection/setting iconsSi can be moved back into the part of the selection/setting window Swthat is being displayed so as to display all the selection/setting iconsSi in that part of the selection/setting window Sw as shown in FIG. 14B.

For example, when a left half of a selection/setting window Sw moves outof the window display region 52 so that the move icon Si1 and theproperty icon Si3 that are arranged in the left half disappear, the moveicon Si1 can be moved to the upper left corner of the part of theselection/setting window Sw that is being displayed and the propertyicon Si3 can be moved to the lower left corner of the part of theselection/setting window Sw that is being displayed to make themreappear.

With this arrangement, if a selection/setting window Sw partlydisappears as a result of moving the window Sw in the selection/settingmode, a situation where some of the selection/setting icons Si disappearis avoided and the user can constantly use all the selection/settingicons Si.

In the selection/setting mode, when a selection/setting window Sw havinga small display size is hidden under some other selection/setting windowSw having a large display size (and under the application window Aw ofthe large display size lying under the large selection/setting window Swto be accurate) and becomes invisible as a result of moving either ofthe selection/setting windows Sw, the color of the largeselection/setting window Sw is changed (from orange to red for example)to notify the user that the small selection/setting window Sw is hiddenunder the large selection/setting window Sw.

Additionally, in such a situation, the user can move the largeselection/setting window Sw (e.g., Sw5) down to the lowermost levelalong with the underlying application window Aw (e.g., Aw5) by touchingthe large selection/setting window Sw (e.g., Sw5) at an area thereofother than the selection/setting icons Si by means of a finger and thenmoving the finger away from the area so as to make the hidden smallselection/setting window Sw (e.g., Swx) and the underlying applicationwindow Aw (e.g., Aws) come up and lie on the large selection/settingwindow Sw (e.g., Sw5) as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B.

Furthermore, when the display size of a selection/setting window Sw ischanged as a result of that the size change icon Si4 is operated by theuser in the selection/setting mode, the control section 30 is adapted tochange the display size of the selection/setting icons Si in theselection/setting window Sw if necessary. The change of the display sizeof the selection/setting icons Si will be described in detail below.

(2-5) Change of Display Size of Selection/Setting Icons

A standard display size is defined for the selection/setting icons Siand the selection/setting icons Si are displayed with the standarddisplay size. The standard display size is common to all theselection/setting icons Si. The display area of a selection/setting iconis such that it can be snugly touched by a finger of man (e.g., 1 cmlong and 1 cm wide).

As shown in FIG. 16, the selection/setting icons Si of aselection/setting window Sw are displayed with this standard size whenthe selection/setting window Sw has a width not less than twice of thewidth of a selection/setting icon Si of the standard display size, orthe width (X in FIG. 16) of a selection/setting icon Si of the standarddisplay size×2 (e.g., 2 cm) and a height not less than twice of theheight of a selection/setting icon Si of the standard display size, orthe height (Y in FIG. 16) of a selection/setting icon Si of the standarddisplay size×2 (e.g., 2 cm).

In other words, the selection/setting icons Si of a selection/settingwindow Sw are displayed with this standard size when theselection/setting icons Si arranged at the four corners of theselection/setting window Sw do not overlap with each other in theselection/setting window Sw (e.g., when the selection/setting window Swhas a width and a height equal to 2 cm).

Thus, the selection/setting icons Si of a selection/setting window Sware constantly displayed with the standard size at the four corners ofthe selection/setting window Sw so long as the above requirement is metif the selection/setting window Sw is expanded or contracted.

However, when the selection/setting window Sw is contracted to such anextent (e.g., to show a width less than 2 cm and a height less than 2cm) that the selection/setting icons Si arranged at the four corners ofthe selection/setting window Sw overlap with each other if they aredisplayed with the standard size, the control section 30 changes thedisplay size of the selection/setting icons Si. The display size of theselection/setting icons Si is reduced to make them not overlap with eachother to be more accurate.

Assume here, for example, a width of 1 cm and a height of 1 cm areselected for the standard display size of selection/setting icons Si.Then, if the height of a selection/setting window Sw showing a width ofnot less than 2 cm and a height of not less than 2 cm is reduced to showa height of 1.6 cm as shown in FIG. 17, the control section 30 reducesthe height of each of the selection/setting icons Si to 1.6/2=0.8 cm.Thus, as a result, the selection/setting icons Si being displayed in theselection/setting window Sw showing a reduced height do not overlap witheach other in the window.

More specifically, as the height of the selection/setting icons Si isreduced to ½ of the reduced height of the selection/setting window Sw,the selection/setting icons Si1 through Si4 are arranged in such a waythat the lower edge of the upper left corner selection/setting icon Si1lies exactly on the upper edge of the lower left cornerselection/setting icon Si3 and the lower edge of the upper right cornerselection/setting icon Si2 lies exactly on the upper edge of the lowerright corner selection/setting icon Si4.

Assume again that the width of the selection/setting window Sw isreduced to 1.4 cm as shown in FIG. 18, the control section 30 reducesthe width of each of the selection/setting icons Si to 1.4/2=0.7 cm.Thus, as a result, the selection/setting icons Si being displayed in theselection/setting window Sw showing a reduced width do not overlap witheach other in the window.

More specifically, as the width of the selection/setting icons Si isreduced to ½ of the reduced width of the selection/setting window Sw,the selection/setting icons Si1 through Si4 are arranged in such a waythat the right edge of the upper left corner selection/setting icon Si1lies exactly on the left edge of the upper right cornerselection/setting icon Si2 and the right edge of the lower left cornerselection/setting icon Si3 lies exactly on the left edge of the lowerright corner selection/setting icon Si4.

With the above-described arrangement, when the size of theselection/setting icons Si is reduced, it is reduced in such a way thatthey are displayed as large as possible within the limit of notoverlapping with each other.

Thus, the control section 30 changes the display size of theselection/setting icons Si in each selection/setting window Sw in theabove-described manner.

The smallest display size is defined for the display size of eachselection/setting window Sw and each selection/setting window Sw is notable to be dimensionally reduced beyond this smallest size. The smallestdisplay size may typically be equal to the size of a selection/settingicon Si of the standard display size (e.g., a width of 1 cm and a heightof 1 cm).

When a selection/setting window Sw is displayed with this smallestdisplay size, each of the selection/setting icons Si in theselection/setting window Sw is displayed with such a size that the areaof the selection/setting icon Si is ¼ of that of a selection/settingicon Si of the standard display size (e.g., with a width of 0.5 cm and aheight of 0.5 cm) as shown in FIG. 19. Then, the selection/settingwindow Sw is divided into four equal parts and the selection/settingicons Si1 through Si4 take the respective parts. Then, the display sizeof each of the selection/setting icons Si (which is ¼ of the standardsize of the selection/setting icons Si) is defined to be the smallestdisplay size. The smallest display size of each selection/setting windowSw and that of each selection/setting icon Si are defined in such a waythat a selection/setting icon Si of the smallest display size can betouched by a finger of man.

Thus, the display size of the selection/setting icons Si is not changedfrom the standard display size as long as the selection/setting icons Siin a selection/setting window Sw that are displayed with the standarddisplay size do not overlap with each other if the display size of theselection/setting window Sw is reduced. In other words, the display sizeof the selection/setting icons Si is reduced only when the display sizeof the selection/setting window Sw is reduced further.

With this arrangement, the control section 30 displays theselection/setting icons Si with the standard display size as long aspossible because the standard display size allows the selection/settingicons Si to be handled with ease on the touch panel while it can freelychange the display size of each selection/setting window Sw.

The display size of the selection/setting icons Si of aselection/setting window Sw is changed not only when the size changeicon Si4 is operated to do so but also when a selection/setting windowSw is moved and partly goes out of the window display region 52 so thatthe part of the selection/setting window Sw remaining in the windowdisplay region 52 is modified accordingly.

In such a situation, the control section 30 treats both the change ofthe display size of a selection/setting window Sw that is made when thesize change icon Si4 is operated and the change of the display size of aselection/setting window Sw that is made in response to a move of theselection/setting window Sw equally as alterations relative to thedisplay area of a selection/setting window Sw being displayed in thewindow display region 52.

More specifically, when the part of a selection/setting window Sw beingdisplayed is modified as a result of that the selection/setting windowSw is moved and partly goes out of the window display region 52 and thesize of the part being displayed is such that the selection/settingicons Si at the four corners of the part do not overlap with each otherif they are displayed with the standard display size, the controlsection 30 keeps on displaying the selection/setting icons Si with thestandard display size.

When, on the other hand, the selection/setting window Sw is moved tosuch an extent that the selection/setting icons Si at the four cornersof the part overlap with each other if they are displayed with thestandard display size, the control section 30 reduces the display sizeof the selection/setting icons Si so as to make not overlap with eachother (e.g., and show a width of less than 2 cm and a height of lessthan 2 cm) as shown in FIG. 20.

In this way, when a selection/setting window Sw is moved and the part ofthe selection/setting window Sw being displayed in the window displayregion 52 is modified, the control section 30 changes the display sizeof each of the selection/setting icons Si.

(2-6) Icon Display Size Change Process Sequence

Now, the sequence of the process of changing the display size ofselection/setting icons Si (to be also referred to as icon display sizechange process sequence hereinafter) RT1 will be described in detailbelow by referring to the flowchart of FIG. 21. The control section 30executes the icon display size change process according to the icondisplay size change process sequence RT1 mainly according to the programstored in the flash memory 31 or the mass storage flash memory 32. Whilethe process sequence includes a sequence to be followed when changingthe display size of selection/setting icons Si in the horizontaldirection (in the direction of the X-axis) and a sequence to be followedwhen changing the display size of selection/setting icons Si in thevertical direction (in the direction of the Y-axis), they are basicallythe same and hence only the sequence to be followed when changing thedisplay size in the horizontal direction (in the direction of theX-axis) will be described below.

As the control section 30 moves into a setting mode, it starts the icondisplay size change process sequence RT1 and goes into Step SP1.

In Step SP1, the control section 30 sets the width of theselection/setting icons Si, which are being displayed, of the standardsize to variable bs and also sets the height of the selection/settingicons Si, which are being displayed, of the standard size to variable bxand then moves to the next step, or Step SP2. Note that, variablebs=variable bx if the width of the part of the selection/setting windowSw being displayed in the window display region 52 is not less than thewidth of the standard display size (in other words, the width of theselection/setting icons Si being displayed=the width of the standarddisplay size).

In Step SP2, the control section 30 waits for a user's operation foraltering the display area of the selection/setting window Sw in thewindow display region 52 (namely for changing the display size of theselection/setting window Sw or modifying the part of theselection/setting window Sw being displayed in the window display region52 according to a move of the selection/setting window Sw).

As the control section 30 recognizes that such a user's operation isperformed, it proceeds to Step SP3. In Step SP3, the control section 30sets the width after the alteration of the display area of theselection/setting window Sw in the window display region 52 to variablewx and moves to the next step, or Step SP4.

In Step SP4, the control section 30 determines if the variable wx issmaller than the variable bs×2 or not. If the answer to the question inStep SP4 is negative, it means that the variable wx is not smaller thanthe variable bx×2 and hence the width after the alteration of thedisplay area of the selection/setting window Sw in the window displayregion 52 is not less than the width×2 of the standard display size ofselection/setting icons Si. Then, the control section 30 determines thatthe selection/setting icons Si in the selection/setting window Sw do notoverlap with each other horizontally if the selection/setting icons Siare displayed with the width of the standard size and then moves to StepSP5.

In Step SP5, the control section 30 substitutes the variable bs for thevariable bx and hence selects the width of the standard display size forthe width of the selection/setting icons Si and returns to Step SP1.

If, on the other hand, the answer to the question in Step SP4 ispositive, it means that the variable wx is smaller than the variablebs×2 and hence the width after the alteration of the display area of theselection/setting window Sw in the window display region 52 is less thanthe width×2 of the standard display size of selection/setting icons Si.Then, the control section 30 determines that the width of theselection/setting icons Si needs to be made smaller than the width ofthe standard size if the selection/setting icons Si are to be displayedwithout overlapping with each other horizontally and then moves to StepSP6.

In Step SP6, the control section 30 substitutes the variable wx/2 forthe variable bx and hence selects ½ of the current width of theselection/setting window Sw for the width after the alteration of thedisplay area of the selection/setting window Sw in the window displayregion 52 and returns to Step SP1.

Thereafter, the control section 30 repeats Steps SP1 through SP6 untilit goes out of the selection/setting mode.

In this way, the control section 30 changes the display size of theselection/setting icons Si according to the icon display size changeprocess sequence RT1 (in the horizontal direction in the abovedescription of the sequence RT1).

Note that, when the control section 30 changes the display size of theselection/setting icons Si in the vertical direction, it sets the heightof the standard display size of the selection/setting icons Si is to thevariable bs and also the height of the display size of theselection/setting icons Si that are being displayed to the variable byinstead of the variable bx in Step SP1 and then sets the height afterthe alteration of the display area of the selection/setting window Sw inthe window display region 52 to the variable wy instead of the variablewx in Step SP3.

The process sequence for changing the height of the display size of theselection/setting icons Si is followed simultaneously or sequentiallyone after another with the process sequence for altering the widththereof.

(2-7) Operation and Effect

With the above-described arrangement, the information communicationterminal 10 displays selection/setting windows Sw in the window displayregion 52 of a GUI image 50 where selection/setting icons Si arearranged at the four corners.

As described above, the information communication terminal 10 constantlydisplays selection/setting icons Si with the standard size in thedisplay areas of selection/setting windows Sw in the window displayregion 52 so long as it can display selection/setting icons Si at thefour corners without making them overlap with each other.

On the other hand, when it contracts the display area of aselection/setting window Sw in the window display region 52 to such anextent that the selection/setting icons Si at the four corners thereofoverlap with each other if they are displayed in the display area withthe standard display size, the information communication terminal 10reduces the display size of the selection/setting icons Si so as to makethem not overlap with each other.

In such a case, the information communication terminal 10 displays theselection/setting icons Si with a size that is maximally close to thestandard display size by reducing the display size of theselection/setting icons Si so as to make their closely located sideslying one on the other in the direction perpendicular to the directionin which the display size is reduced.

With this arrangement, the information communication terminal 10 canprovide a GUI image where selection/setting icons Si are displayed withthe standard display size that allows the user to handle them with easeon the touch panel as long as possible but the display size of each ofthe selection/setting windows Sw can be changed freely.

The information communication terminal 10 displays selection/settingwindows Sw where selection/setting icons Si that are common to all theapplication windows Aw are arranged only in a selection/setting mode.Thus, no selection/setting icons Si are displayed in the applicationwindow Aw in any other mode of operation so that all the display regionof the application window Aw can be effectively utilized by individualapplication programs.

With the above-described arrangement, the information communicationterminal 10 does not change the display size of the selection/settingicons Si of any selection/setting window Sw if it reduces the displayarea of the selection/setting window Sw so long as the selection/settingicons Si of the standard display size do not overlap with each other butreduces the display size of the selection/setting icons Si only when thedisplay area of the selection/setting window Sw is reduced further tosuch an extent that the selection/setting icons Si do not overlap witheach other. Therefore, the display area of each selection/setting windowSw can be changed freely while maximally maintaining the standarddisplay size of the selection/setting icons Si thereof. Thus, thisembodiment can a raise the degree of freedom of manipulating aselection/setting window Sw while minimizing the fall of the operabilityof the selection/setting icons Si in the selection/setting window Sw.

(3) Third Embodiment

Now, the third embodiment of the present invention, which is a concreteexample of the first embodiment, will be described below. In the thirdembodiment, a degree of importance is assigned to each selection/settingicon Si and, when it is determined that two selection/setting icons Sioverlap with each other, the display size of the selection/setting iconSi having a higher degree of importance (the lower priorityselection/setting icon Si for changing the display size) is not changed,whereas that of the selection/setting icon Si having a lower degree ofimportance (the higher priority selection/setting icon Si for changingthe display size) is changed.

In other words, the third embodiment differs from the second embodimentin terms of the method of changing the display size of eachselection/setting icon Si. Otherwise, the configuration of theinformation communication terminal 10 of the third embodiment is same asthat of the second embodiment and hence the icon display size changeprocess sequence will be mainly described below.

The icon display size change process sequence RT2 of the thirdembodiment will be described below in detail by referring to theflowchart of FIG. 22. The control section 30 executes the icon displaysize change process according to the icon display size change processsequence RT2 mainly according to the program stored in the flash memory31 or the mass storage flash memory 32. While the process sequenceincludes a sequence to be followed when changing the display size ofselection/setting icons Si in the horizontal direction (in the directionof the X-axis) and a sequence to be followed when changing the displaysize of selection/setting icons Si in the vertical direction (in thedirection of the Y-axis), they are basically same and hence only thesequence to be followed when changing the display size in the horizontaldirection (in the direction of the X-axis) will be described below.

Assume here that a degree of importance is defined for eachselection/setting icons Si1 through Si4. More specifically, assume thatthe property icon Si3 has the lowest degree of importance because it ismost likely operated when the display area of the selection/settingwindow Sw is reduced and the closing icon Si2 has the next lowest degreeof importance, whereas the move icon Si1 has the third lowest degree ofimportance and the size change icon Si4 has the highest degree ofimportance.

As the embodiment moves into a selection/setting mode, the controlsection 30 starts to follow the icon display size change processsequence RT2 and moves into Step SP10.

In Step SP10, the control section 30 sets the width of theselection/setting icons Si, which are being displayed, of the standardsize to variable bs and also sets the height of the selection/settingicons Si, which are being displayed, of the standard size to variable bxand then moves to the next step, or Step SP11. Note that, variablebs=variable bx if the width of the part of the selection/setting windowSw being displayed in the window display region 52 is not less than thewidth of the standard display size (in other words, the width of theselection/setting icons Si being displayed=the width of the standarddisplay size).

In Step SP11, the control section 30 waits for a user's operation foraltering the display area of the selection/setting window Sw in thewindow display region 52 (namely for changing the display size of theselection/setting window Sw or modifying the part of theselection/setting window Sw being displayed in the window display region52 according to a move of the selection/setting window Sw).

As the control section 30 recognizes that such a user's operation isperformed, it proceeds to Step SP12. In Step SP12, the control section30 sets the width after the alteration of the display area of theselection/setting window Sw in the window display region 52 to variablewx and moves to the next step, or Step SP13.

In Step SP13, the control section 30 determines if the variable wx issmaller than the variable bs×2 or not. If the answer to the question inStep SP13 is negative, it means that the variable wx is not smaller thanthe variable bx×2 and hence the width after the alteration of thedisplay area of the selection/setting window Sw in the window displayregion 52 is not less than the width×2 of the standard display size ofselection/setting icons Si. Then, the control section 30 determines thatthe selection/setting icons Si in the selection/setting window Sw do notoverlap with each other horizontally if the selection/setting icons Siare displayed with the width of the standard display size and then movesto Step SP14.

In Step SP14, the control section 30 substitutes the variable bs for thevariable bx and hence selects the width of the standard size for thewidth of the selection/setting icons Si and returns to Step SP1.

If, on the other hand, the answer to the question in Step SP13 ispositive, it means that the variable wx is smaller than the variablebs×2 and hence the width after the alteration of the display area of theselection/setting window Sw in the window display region 52 is less thanthe width×2 of the standard display size of selection/setting icons Si.Then, the control section 30 determines that the width of one of theselection/setting icons Si having a lower degree of importance from theadjacently located two selection/setting icons Si needs to be madesmaller than the width of the standard display size if theselection/setting icons Si are to be displayed without overlapping witheach other horizontally and then moves to Step SP15.

In Step SP15, the control section 30 defines the width (bx) of theselection/setting icon Si having the lowest degree of importance to beequal to (the width of the display area of the selection/setting windowSw in the window display region 52 after the alteration (wx)—the width(bs) of the selection/setting icon Si having the highest degree ofimportance) and returns to Step SP10 without changing the width of theselection/setting icon Si having a higher degree of importance from thestandard display size of the width (bs).

Thereafter, the control section 30 repeats Steps SP10 through SP15 untilit goes out of the selection/setting mode.

In this way, the control section 30 changes the display size of theselection/setting icons Si according to the icon display size changeprocess sequence RT2 (in the horizontal direction in the abovedescription).

Note that, when the control section 30 changes the display size of theselection/setting icons Si in the vertical direction, it sets the heightof the standard display size of the selection/setting icons Si is to thevariable bs and also the height of the display size of theselection/setting icons Si that are being displayed to the variable byinstead of the variable bx in Step SP10 in the icon display size changeprocess sequence RT2 and then sets the height after the alteration ofthe display area of the selection/setting window Sw in the windowdisplay region 52 to the variable wy instead of the variable wx in StepSP12 and alter the height of the display size of one of theselection/setting icons Si based on the degree of importance of theadjacently located two selection/setting icons Si in the verticaldirection.

The process sequence for changing the height of the display size of theselection/setting icons Si is followed simultaneously or sequentiallyone after another with the process sequence for altering the widththereof.

In this way, when the display area of a selection/setting window Sw isreduced to such an extent that the selection/setting icons Si arrangedat the four corners of the display area overlap with each other if theyare displayed with the standard display size in the informationcommunication terminal 10 of the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23,any adjacently two located selection/setting icons Si can be displayedwithout overlapping with each other in the reduced display area of theselection/setting window Sw by reducing the display size of theselection/setting icon Si having a lower degree of importance of thetwo.

Additionally, the selection/setting icon Si that is most likely operatedwhen the display area of the selection/setting window Sw is reduced hasthe highest degree of importance among the four selection/setting iconsSi in the information communication terminal 10. In other words, theselection/setting icon Si that is most likely operated when the displayarea of the selection/setting window Sw is reduced is displayed with alarge display size if compared with the other selection/setting iconsSi.

With this arrangement, the display size of a selection/setting window Swcan be changed freely, while the selection/setting icon Si thereof thatis most likely operated when the display area of the selection/settingwindow Sw is reduced is displayed with the standard display size as longas possible because it can be operated with ease with such a displaysize by the touch panel.

Note that the display size of the selection/setting windows Sw of thisembodiment is defined to be same as the smallest display size of thefirst embodiment of the selection/setting windows Sw. When aselection/setting window Sw is displayed with this smallest displaysize, only the size change icon Si4 that has the highest degree ofimportance is displayed with the standard display size in theselection/setting window Sw as shown in FIG. 24. Then, the display sizeof the selection/setting window Sw is substantially the same as thedisplay size of the size change icon Si4.

The smallest display size of each of the selection/setting icons Si canbe defined appropriately. When some of the selection/setting icons Sibecome smaller than the smallest display size as a result of sizechange, they may be undisplayed.

(4) Other Embodiments

When a selection/setting window Sw is moved in a desired direction inthe window display region 52 of the second embodiment, theselection/setting window Sw partly moves out of the window displayregion 52, the selection/setting icons Si being displayed in theselection/setting window Sw are rearranged in the above description.However, the present invention is by no means limited thereto and, whena selection/setting window Sw partly moves out of the window displayregion 52, the position of the selection/setting window Sw may beautomatically adjusted so that the selection/setting window Sw is movedback to some extent so that all the selection/setting window Sw may befound within the window display region 52 as illustrated in FIGS. 25Aand 25B.

With this arrangement, all the selection/setting icons Si found in aselection/setting window Sw can constantly be operated.

Still alternatively, when some of the selection/setting icons Si are nolonger displayed because the selection/setting window Sw partly movesout of the window display region 52, the positions of theselection/setting icons Si may be adjusted so as to display theselection/setting icon having the highest degree of importance. Forexample, when the selection/setting icon Si that has the lowest degreeof importance is displayed out of the four selection/setting icons Si1through Si4 as shown in FIG. 26A, the selection/setting icon Si isreplaced by the selection/setting icon Si having the highest degree ofimportance among the selection/setting icons Si1 to Si4 as shown in FIG.26B. With this arrangement, at least the selection/setting icon Sihaving the highest degree of importance can constantly be operated.

The display size of the selection/setting icons Si is reduced from thestandard display size when the display area of the selection/settingwindow Sw is reduced, in the above-described second embodiment. Then,the region that can sense a touch given to a selection/setting icon Sion the display screen (to be referred to as recognition regionhereinafter) is reduced because the recognition region and theselection/setting icon Si have the same size, or the recognition regionis same as the selection/setting icon Si in accordance with the displaysize change of the selection/setting icons Si.

As the recognition region of a selection/setting icon Si is reduced, theoperability is reduced relative to the selection/setting icons Si. Inview of this problem, the display size of the selection/setting icons Simay be reduced without reducing the size of the respective recognitionregions for the purpose of the present invention.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 27, the display size of theselection/setting icons Si is reduced but the recognition regions of theselection/setting icons Si are constantly held to a size same as thestandard display size to prevent any fall of the operability of theselection/setting icons Si. The recognition regions of theselection/setting icons Si need to be arranged so as not to overlap witheach other. Thus, for example, each of the recognition regions may bearranged so as to include the display area of the correspondingselection/setting icon Si and goes out of the display area of theselection/setting icon Si and the boundary of the correspondingselection/setting window Sw.

However, the present invention is by no means limited thereto. Forexample, it may alternatively be so arranged that the display size of aselection/setting icon Si is expanded only when the recognition regionof the selection/setting icon Si is touched as shown in FIG. 28. Withthis arrangement, the user can easily recognize the selection/settingicon Si that he or she touches.

The display size of the selection/setting icons Si of aselection/setting window Sw is reduced to make them not overlap witheach other whenever necessary when the display area of theselection/setting window Sw is reduced in the above-described secondembodiment. However, the present invention is by no means limitedthereto and the command assigned to one of the two adjacently locatedselection/setting icons Si that has a lower degree of importance may bereplaced by the command assigned to the selection/setting icon Si havinga higher degree of importance when the display size of theselection/setting icons Si is reduced to not larger than a predetermineddisplay size. The positions of the marks of the selection/setting iconsSi may also be altered in response to the replacement of command. Theexpression of a degree of importance as used above has a meaning same asthe one used for the third embodiment.

More specifically, for example, when the width of the selection/settingicons Si is reduced below a predetermined value (e.g., less than thestandard display size), the command assigned to the selection/settingicon Si having a lower degree of importance of the two selection/settingicons Si that are horizontally arranged side by side is replaced by thecommand assigned to the other selection/setting icon Si having a higherdegree of importance as illustrated in FIG. 29. Then, as a result, thesame command is assigned to the two selection/setting icons Si that arehorizontally arranged side by side.

With this arrangement, the area that can be used for inputting thecommand originally assigned to the selection/setting icon Si having ahigher degree of importance is doubled so that the user can easily inputthe command, although the user is not able to input the command assignedto the selection/setting icon Si having a lower degree of importance.

Thus, when all the four selection/setting icons Si1 through Si4 areultimately displayed with the smallest display size as shown in FIG. 30,the command having the highest degree of importance (the size alterationcommand in this example) is assigned to all the selection/setting iconsSi1 through Si4 in the selection/setting window Sw as shown in FIG. 30to produce an effect same as the one that is produced when only theselection/setting icon Si to which the command having the highest degreeof importance is assigned is displayed in the selection/setting windowSw. Such a replacement of command can be applied to the thirdembodiment.

The standard display size of selection/setting icon Si is so selectedthat the user can satisfactorily touch the part of a selection/settingicon Si that is being displayed by a finger and hence manipulate thetouch panel 16 with ease in the above-described second and thirdembodiments. However, the present invention is by no means limitedthereto and the standard display size may be selected appropriatelyaccording to the input device, the size of the display screen and/or theapplication.

Similarly, the smallest display size of selection/setting window Sw andthat of selection/setting icon Si may be selected appropriately.

The highest degree of importance is assigned to the selection/settingicon Si that is most likely operated among the four selection/settingicons Si1 through Si4 and the display size of each selection/settingicon Si is altered according to the degree of importance thereof in theabove-described third embodiment. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto and it may alternatively be so arranged that the usercan define the degree of importance of each of the icons Si1 through Si4of each selection/setting window Sw or the degree of importance of eachof the selection/setting icons Si may be defined according to variousrequirements to be met.

A total of four selection/setting icons Si are arranged at the fourcorners of a selection/setting window Sw in the above-described secondand third embodiments. However, the present invention is by no meanslimited thereto and alternatively at least two selection/setting iconsSi may be arranged at predetermined respective positions in aselection/setting window Sw. Still alternatively, commands other thanthose assigned to the above-described second and third embodiments maybe respectively assigned to the selection/setting icons Si.

The display size of each selection/setting icon Si is reduced to such anextent that the selection/setting icons Si do not overlap with eachother in the above-described second and third embodiments. However, thepresent invention is by no means limited thereto and eachselection/setting icon Si may alternatively be reduced to such an extentthat the gap separating any two adjacently located selection/settingicons Si does not fall below a predetermined value (e.g. 5 mm) or stillalternatively the display size of each selection/setting icon Si may bereduced when the display area of the selection/setting window Sw fallsbelow a set of predetermined values (e.g., 2.5 cm for the height and 2.5cm for the width).

While multi-window type GUI images 50 are applied to the above-describedsecond and third embodiments of the present invention, the presentinvention is not limited thereto and GUI images of any other type may beapplied to the present invention so long as a GUI image can display twoor more than two icons in a window. While the present invention isapplied to selection/setting windows Sw that are laid on respectiveapplication windows Aw in the above description, the present inventioncan also be applied to windows of various types so long as two or morethan two icons are arranged in each window. While selection/settingwindows Sw are laid on the respective application windows Aw anddisplayed in a selection/setting mode in the above-described second andthird embodiments, selection/setting icons Si may alternatively bearranged in advance on application windows Aw or, still alternatively,it may be so arranged that selection/setting icons Si are displayed onapplication windows Aw in a selection/setting mode.

The program for executing the icon display size change process is storedin the flash memory 31 or the mass storage flash memory 32 in theabove-described second and third embodiments. However, the presentinvention is by no means limited thereto and it may alternatively be soarranged that the program is stored in a removal medium 39 and theinformation communication terminal 10 reads out the program from theremoval medium 39 by way of the drive 38 and installs it in the flashmemory 31 or the mass storage flash memory 32. Still alternatively, itmay be so arranged that the information communication terminal 10downloads the program by way of the wireless communication section 35and installs it in the flash memory 31 or the mass storage flash memory32.

While the information communication terminal 10 is formed mainly by acontrol section 30 that operates as display control section, commandassignment section and priority defining section and a touch panel 16that operates as command input section in each of the above-describedsecond and third embodiments, the present invention is not limitedthereto and an information communication terminal 10 according to theembodiment of the present invention can be formed by using othercomponents so long as it is provided with those functional features. Forexample, while the control section 30 is provided with functionalfeatures that allow it to operate as display control section, commandassignment section and priority defining section in the informationcommunication terminal 10 of the second embodiment, the informationcommunication terminal 10 alternatively is made to have pieces ofhardware that are provided respectively with the functional feature of adisplay control section, that of a command assignment section and thatof a priority defining section. Furthermore, the touch panel 16 thatoperates as command input section may be replaced by a mouse and othercomponents.

The present invention can find applications not only in the field ofportable information communication terminals 10 but also in the field ofother various information processing apparatus including personalcomputers and game machines.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above-describedfirst through third embodiments and parts or all of the above-describedfirst through third embodiments and other embodiments may appropriatelybe combined or part of which may be extracted within the scope of thepresent invention.

The present invention can find applications in information processingapparatus having a window type GUI.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising:processing circuitry configured to display, via a display controlsection, a window on a display screen showing a first icon and a secondicon of each having a current display size, define, via a prioritydefining section, a priority for the first icon and the second icon, thepriority being determined in part based on which icon is operated themost between the first and the second icon, reduce, via the displaycontrol section, the current display size of at least one of the firsticon or the second icon based on an icon having a lowest priority toavoid overlap with each other in response to a display area size of thewindow being reduced, and the display control section determining thatthe icons would overlap with each other as a result of the reduction ofthe display area size if the current display size of the first andsecond icons is maintained, and expand the current display size of thefirst or second icon in response to a selection of the first or secondicon, wherein when the display control section reduces the display sizeof the first icon or the second icon, a size of recognition regions forrecognizing operations relative to the reduced first icon or the secondicon on the screen is maintained, the recognition regions being regionsthat can recognize an input on the display screen.
 2. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processingcircuitry is further configured to input, via a command input section, acommand to the window being displayed on the screen, wherein the displaycontrol section alters the display area of the window in accordance withthe command to the window input by way of the command input section. 3.The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, whena command for reducing the display size of the window is input by way ofthe command input section, the display control section alters thedisplay area of the window by reducing the display size of the window inaccordance with the command.
 4. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein, when a command for changing the displaysize of the window is input by way of the command input section, thedisplay control section shifts the display position of the window inaccordance with the command, alters the display area of the window inthe case where the window partly moves out of the display screen as aresult of the shift of the display position, and in the case where thedisplay control section determines that at least either the first iconor the second icon moves out of the display area of the window as aresult of the alteration of the display area, the display controlsection moves the icon outside the display area back into the displayarea so as to be displayed.
 5. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein, when a command for changing the displaysize of the window is input by way of the command input section, thedisplay control section shifts the display position of the window inaccordance with the command and in the case where the window partlymoves out of the screen as a result of the shift of the displayposition, the display control section adjusts the display position ofthe window to make the window entirely to be displayed on the displayscreen.
 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the processing circuitry further includes assigning, via acommand assigning section, a first command and a second commandrespectively to the first icon and the second icon, wherein the commandassigning section selects either the first command assigned to the firsticon or the second command assigned to the second icon, making only theselected command effective, when the display size of either the firsticon or the second icon is made smaller than a predetermined displaysize under the control of the display control section.
 7. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay control section has a first mode of altering the display area ofthe window and a second mode of not altering the display area of thewindow and alters the display area of the window being on the screenonly in the first mode.
 8. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the command input section is a touchpanel.
 9. A display control method comprising: causing, via a processor,a display control section to display a window on a display screenshowing a first icon and a second icon each having a current displaysize; defining, via the processor, a priority for the first icon and thesecond icon, the priority being determined in part based on which iconis operated the most between the first and the second icon; reducing,via the processor, the current display size of at least one of the firsticon or the second icon based on an icon having a lowest priority toavoid overlap with each other in response to a display area size of thewindow being reduced, and the display control section determining thatthe icons would overlap with each other as a result of the reduction ofthe display area size if the current display size of the first andsecond icons is maintained; and expanding the current display size ofthe first or second icon in response to a selection of the first orsecond icon, wherein when the display size of the first icon or thesecond icon is reduced, a size of recognition regions for recognizingoperations relative to the reduced first icon or the second icon on thescreen is maintained, the recognition regions being regions that canrecognize an input on the display screen.
 10. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions thereonwhich when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a methodcomprising: causing a display control section to display a window on adisplay screen showing a first icon and a second icon each having acurrent display size; defining, via the a processor, a priority for thefirst icon and the second icon, the priority being determined in partbased on which icon is operated the most between the first and thesecond icon; reducing the current display size of at least one of thefirst icon or the second icon based on an icon having a lowest priorityto avoid overlap with each other in response to a display area size ofthe window being reduced, and the display control section determiningthat the icons would overlap with each other as a result of thereduction of the display area size if the current display size of thefirst and second icons is maintained; and expanding the current displaysize of the first or second icon in response to a selection of the firstor second icon, wherein when the display size of the first icon or thesecond icon is reduced, a size of recognition regions for recognizingoperations relative to the reduced first icon or the second icon on thescreen is maintained, the recognition regions being regions that canrecognize an input on the display screen.
 11. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control section onlyreduces the current display size of the icon having the lowest priorityto avoid overlap with each other.
 12. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control sectionexpands the current display size of only the first or only the secondicon in response to a selection of the first or second icon.
 13. Theinformation processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thecurrent display size of an unselected icon remains the same in responseto the selection of another icon.
 14. The information processingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry furtherincludes assigning, via a command assigning section, a first command anda second command respectively to the first icon and the second icon,wherein the command assigning section selects either the first commandassigned to the first icon and or the second command assigned to thesecond icon to be effective based on the priority.
 15. The informationprocessing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the priority isfurther determined based on which icon is operated the most between thefirst and the second icon when both the first icon and second icon arein a reduced icon state.
 16. The information processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein in response to the display area size ofthe window being reduced below a predetermined threshold and the displaycontrol section determining that the icons would overlap, the displaycontrol section displays only the icon having the highest priority. 17.The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thecurrent display size of at least one of the first icon or the secondicon is reduced while maintaining both the first icon and second icon onthe display screen.
 18. The information processing apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the recognition regions are regions that canrecognize a touch input on the display screen.